It Follows: "Retro Horror In The Modern Age"



Director: David Robert Mitchell
Runtime: 100 min
Rating: R

One of the year's most anticipated horror movies is called “It Follows”. You'll either love it or you'll hate it. I for one am a big fan of this soon to be cult classic. The story is one you've heard before. Girl meets boy, boy infects girl with curse after they've had wild passionate sex.

Maikia Monroe plays Jay Height, a naive young girl who has a bit of a dilemma. An evil entity won't leave her alone since she had sex with her dreamy boyfriend. This demonic spirit takes on many forms. It's an old woman, a 7 foot tall man, a nude dude, a naked chick, you name it. The only way she can get rid of the curse is if she has sex with some unfortunate soul. It's a twisted game of hot potato where the loser is haunted by some messed up individuals.

It Follows takes place in Detroit, Michigan. The shots of dilapidated buildings, stained walls and prostitutes really adds to the depressing feel of the movie. The neighborhood resembles a ghost town since you rarely see other people outside of their homes. It's a broken down version of Haddonfield, Illinois from the original Halloween. There's always a feeling of dread. You're running out of time before “It” gets you.

It's hard to tell what time period It Follows takes place in. Black and white TVs are the norm and teens use e readers shaped like sea shells. The kids in this small town have parents, but you rarely see them. They have to rely on each other if they want to survive. The music is haunting and plays homage to movies of the 1980's. The cinematography is superb and takes movie goers on a wild ride. You'll feel like you're the evil creature following these teens.


"This iconic scene shows Jay getting ready for her big date."

The soundtrack plays a big part of what makes It Follows unique. Disasterpiece has done a wonderful job capturing the mood of this film. So, please make sure the theater has a good sound system where you can feel the beat of the synthesizer. It Follows is a unique horror movie that comes along once in a while. Imitators are sure to pop up in the future to capitalize on its success.

This is a unique take on the modern horror movie. It's a throwback to the late 70's and early 80's, but feels fresh and new. It does have its faults though. The supporting characters fall flat with the exception of Paul played by Keir Gilchrist. The ending leaves a lot to be desired and had me asking for more. 

This isn't an overly gory film, but there are some nasty scenes. My only gripe about the gore is that a few scenes rely too heavily on CGI blood which makes an otherwise beautiful film feel cheap at times. But if you're tired of the same ole cliche horror movie then you're going to have a spooky good time watching “It Follows”. This isn't your run of the mill paranormal tale. It sticks with you long after the credits roll.

Score: 7.5/10


This review was written by Noah Wullkotte of City Blood (www.ohioshaunted.com)

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